Boulder County Board of County Commissioners awards a total of $50,000 to eight waste reduction programs for the Resource Conservation Division's Community Outreach Program 2005.

"Boulder County is unique in the fact that not many counties in this country give out funding for waste reduction programs. By funding these programs, we have the ability to divert tons and tons of material from going to area landfills," said Stacy Lambright, Boulder County Resource Conservation Division education and outreach coordinator.

For the past eight years, the Boulder County Resource Conservation Division has funded $634,000 towards educational or infrastructure programs within Boulder County and Broomfield County.

Programs funded for 2005:

• Boulder County Master Composter Program - $9,977

Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC)

CRC will use funds for continued support of the Boulder County Master Composter Program. The purpose of the program is to offer in-depth training in composting techniques and funds will be used to support the coordination of the class of 30 participants and their public service requirements. This program is a partnership between the Boulder County Resource Conservation Division, Center for ReSource Conservation and Colorado State University Boulder County Extension Service. 

• Construction Waste Recycling Project  - $10,000

Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC)

ReSource will use funds to purchase two dumping trailers for its construction waste recycling project. This project has the potential to divert 15 tons of construction waste from going to area landfills.

• Waste Reduction Outreach & Education Program  - $1,689

City of Lafayette

The City of Lafayette will use funds to provide additional recycling and educational services to the community by increasing their visibility, membership numbers, and outreach capabilities via a booth to be used at community events such as the January Oatmeal Festival, June Colorado Wine Festival, August Peach Festival, and September Celebrate Lafayette Street Fair. 

• City of Louisville Zero Waste Events  -                                      $3,750

City of Louisville

The City of Louisville will use funds for its goal of expanding Zero-Waste events in 2005, with a goal of incorporating a Zero Waste philosophy into the City's event planning and trash collection in the City's parks. Funds will be used to hold  five Zero-Waste events run by the City.

• CU Campus/Commuter Recycling Drop-off Stations           $10,000

CU Recycling

CU Recycling Services will use funds to establish two outdoor drop-off stations on the Boulder Campus. These permanent stations will increase collection capacity by an estimated 44 tons annually. These stations will also enable over 3,000 faculty and staff to drop-off household recyclables during their commute to campus. Educational kiosks at the drop-off stations will link campus and community information. These stations will also enable seasonal collection drives for clothing, books, eyeglasses, and perhaps even electronics for campus departments' charity efforts. As one of Boulder County's largest employers, CU feels it can contribute to county-wide waste diversion efforts through joint efforts like this one.

• Litterless Lunch Project and Waste Free Lunch Contest   $3,820

Eco-Cycle/Boulder County School Recycling and Env. Education Program

Eco-Cycle/Boulder County School Recycling and Env. Education Program will use funds to purchase reusable cloth lunch bags for the Litterless Lunch Project and to implement the Waste Free Lunch Contest. This will enable Eco-Cycle to implement the Litterless Lunch Project in at least 20 classroooms and the Waste Free Lunch contest in six schools, involving approximately 3,000 students and their families countywide.

• Growing Green Tours: A Composting Education Project  $4,766

Eco-Cycle/Boulder County School Recycling and Env. Education Program

Eco-Cycle/Boulder County School Recycling and Env. Education Program will use funds for 12 Growing Green Tours for 3rd - 5th grade students in Boulder and Broomfield County public schools. These tours promote composting to participating students and their families, and encourage teachers to include composting in their curriculum.

• Recycling and Yard Waste Infrastructure                                $2,885

Town of Superior

The Town's Waste Diversion Advisory Committee will use funds to continue its progress toward their 50% diversion goal. Funds will be used to develop a yard waste drop-off site and for three-stream containers (recycling, food/composting and garbage) for our zero waste special events.